Representatives of the Investigation Service of Ministry of Finance of Georgia exposed a fact of counterfeiting alcoholic beverages and manufacturing and sale of counterfeited excise marks in the city of Batumi. Criminal prosecution has been initiated against seven persons, three of whom have been detained.

Investigation determined that the accused, in order to obtain illegal income, were systematically producing counterfeit whisky of well-known brands and other alcoholic beverages in illegally arranged production facilities using spirit and special additives. The mentioned products bearing counterfeited excise marks were sold in shops and bars in the Adjara region.

As a result of investigative activities, counterfeit whisky and vodka, a large quantity of used bottles of various brands, alcoholic beverages of unknown origin, counterfeit excise marks, as well as technical equipment intended for the production of counterfeit excise marks, were detected and seized from the illicit factories and commercial facilities.

At this stage, intensive investigative activities are being carried out in order to seize counterfeit alcoholic beverages from the sales network and identify and expose other individuals involved in the crime.

Investigation is underway under Article 197, Part 1, Article 197¹ and Article 200¹, Part 2, Subparagraph “b” of the Criminal Code of Georgia, which envisages imprisonment from 4 to 6 years.